Knitting-machine.



Patented out. 22, Ism. F. WILCOM B.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Jyxly 27, 1899. Renewed May 1, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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n R o N N0. 685,075. Patented 06f. 22, |90I. F. WILCOMB.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application led July 27, 1899. Renewed May 1, 1901.)(No Model.) 6 SheetsQSheet 2.

(Application led July 27, 1899. yRenewed May 1, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

falen/? v-M /vfr W/L COM@ F. WILCOMB.

KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med July 27, 1899. mamma my 1, 1901.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Shank 4. .I

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Ptented oct. 22, 190|.

F. wlLcomB.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application Bled July 27, 189B. Reneved May 1. 1901.)

s sheets-snm' 5.

(No Model.)

Ira/@mrv Pagented Oct. 22, |90I.l F.l WILCOMB. Kmrms mAcHmE.',(Applcation led July 27, 1899. Renewed May 1` 1901.)

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

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PRESS/NG nas Hemus wenn; no.. Hman-mn.. wAsmNumn n c f Nrrnn STATES?PATENT nriciit FRANK wnicoMn, on NoRRIsTowN, rnNNsYLvANIA,

srnclnrcarron forming part of Letter-gramm No. 685,075, dated october22, 1901. Application tiled J'iily 2'7,` 1899; VRenewed May l, 1901.Serial No. 58,307; (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK WILCOMB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norris,- town, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Knitting- Machines, of which the following is aspecifi-- cation. I

Myinvention relates to circular spring-needle knitting-machines, thoughsome of the improvements are applicable to other types of machines. Iemploy two sets of independently-operated spring-needles,and I aim to soarrange the needle-beds of these two sets rela` tively to each otherandv tothe strain of the fabric that the old loops will-be held back onthe second set of needles or those to which the yarn is fed last, whilethe new loops on these needles will be held in advanced position inorder that the old and the new loops may be divided or separated fromeach other to facilitate and insure proper pressing of the needle-beardsand casting off of the old loops. l

To better carry out my purpose I arrange the dial-needles at an anglegreater than a right angle with respect to the cylinder-needles, andthen by feeding the yarn to the dial-needles iirst they will, byretracting upwardly at an inclination, draw the new loops across thestems of the cylinder-needles lip-- ward and a'way from the old loops onthe cylinder-needles, which are held down to the lowest limit againstthe needle-bed by the strain of the fabric, which strain isapproximately parallel to the direction of movement of thecylinder-needles. My object can, however, be carried `out with otherangular arrangements of-the parts than that above referred to, as willbe hereinafter setforth.

Vtfhatever the angular relation between the two sets of needles may beit is essential in carrying out my invention to arrange the parts sothat the needles of the second set or those fed last and the directionof take-up strain Vof the fabric will be approximately or more nearlyparallel in vorder to insure proper dividing of the old and new loopsfor pressing and casting off. In addition to this relative arrangementof needles, feed, and takeup strain I have found it of advantage to useholding plates or wheels interposed between the edge of the dial and thefabric, which serve to support the old dial-loops and the newly-formedloops in order to securea maximum divisional space between the oldcylinder-loops and these newly-formed loops at the time the'cylinder-needle beards are pressed for engaging the old loops about tobe cast od. These holding or supporting devices for the fabric act inopposition to the take-up' strain of the fabric, and they are so locatedas to act on the fabric at `the points where the beards of the secondrow-cylinder-needles in this instance-are pressed; but at other pointsthe fabric is not supported by these devices, thus allowing the take-upstrain of the fabric to insure perfect casting off and completewithdrawal ofthe newly-oast-off loop out of the way of the needle whenit again advances.

I am aware that circular spring-needle knitting-machines have beenprovided with independently-operating needles, with the needlessometimes at right angles and in other angular relations; but so far asI know my arrangement of the needle-rows relative to each other, to thefeed, and to the strain of the fabric from the take-up devices for .thepurpose of dividing, pressing, and casting olf, as hereinstated, isnovel.

A l Another important feature of my invention is a novel arrangementandconstruction of sinker mechanism, which includesa row ofpivotally-supported sinkers extending parallel with the needle-row andeach sinker workingindependently of the others.

I aim to sink the greatest possible amount of yarn by the sinkersoperating in succession, each sinker drawing its full amount of threadin advance of the sinker 'next following in the series, so as to avoidrendering or pulling through of the thread from one sinker to the othersor 4causing possible rupture and also to hold', the newly-formed loopsacross the stems of the needles of the first row while said first needleis being retracted and pressed. This is importantto insure uniformknitting with any kind of yarn and is of the utmost importance in caseof hard-twisted or wiry yarn-as, for instance, lisle-thread and silk.

I have illustrated my invention in connec-y tion with a plurality offeeds in which the devices acting in conjunction with the needles arearranged in groups around the machine, these groups being similar toeach other. The

dial-cap and cams, the cylinder-cam ring, and the presser and sinkercam-supporting ring are each made up of removable sections, so that eachsection is removable in pendently of the other sections for inspectionor repairs.

My invention is carried out on the general plan of machine in which thecylinder and dial-needles and take-u p are made to revolve in unison, itbeing understood,however, that the cylinder-dial and take-up may bestationary and the cams for operating the needles made to revolve. Inmachines of the former class the take-up devices are rotated in unisonwith the dial and cylinder by means of perpendicular brackets or armsextending between the cylinder and take-up plate, and when the machineis in operation these revolving arms interfere with the operatorsinspection of the fabric as it comes from the needles. This is,furthermore, an unsatisfactory mechanical construction, being weak andliable to breakage and susceptible of vibra tion.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of the machine with partsbroken away and parts omitted. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section ofthe upper part of the machine. Fig. .3 is a plan view of a portion ofthe upper part of the machine with parts broken away and parts removed.Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of one of the sections of the dialcap withits attached devices. Fig. 5 is a front view of the cam for depressingthe sinkers. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cylinderneedle cams. Fig. 7is a side view of a threadguide. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same, andFig. S is an edge view of a modification. Fig. 9 is a plan view, withparts in section, showing the pattern mechanism and connections forcontrolling the pressers in ing, detail features being omitted from thisview. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of parts in Fig. 9, some of the partsbeing shown in section. Figs. 1l and 12 are detail views relating to thetucking mechanism. Figs. 13 to 18, inclusive, are detail views showingthe various steps in the method of knitting. Fig. 17a is a detailrelating to these steps. Fig. 19 is a detail view similar to Fig. 17,but illustrating a form of machine with the fabric-holder omitted. Fig.2O shows detail views similar to Figs. 16 and 17, but with theneedle-beds arranged at right angles to each other. Fig. 21 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 17, but with the loop-supporting plate arrangedhorizontally instead of at an incline. Fig. 22 illustrates a modifieda1'- rangement of needle-beds. Fig. 23 is a central vertical section ofa modified form of machine with needle-beds of cup shape, one beinginverted in relation to the other. Figs. 24E and 25 represent details.Fig. 26 is a detail diagrammatic view showing the manner of dividing orseparating the new loop lengths or stitches from the old loop on thecylinderneedles for the purpose of pressing the needle-beards andcasting off of the old loops.

I employ two sets of needles A B, which, for

esaovs convenience, may be designated dial and cylinder needles,respectively; but when I refer to dial-needles herein I mean that set towhich the yarn is fed first, whatever its position may be relative tothe other set. Ordinarily the cylinder-needles receive the yarn first. Ireverse this order for the purposes hereinbefore stated. The needles ofeach set are independently operated by cams a2 b2. Each sinker isoperated independently of all the other sinkers, and they are arrangedin ring form about the dial-needles to coperate therewith, and thesesinkers have pivotal movement in sinking the yarn, both sets of needlesand the sinkers rotating in unison.

In order to explain, first, the operation of knitting, reference is madeto Figs. I3 to 1S. The thread is fed to the dial-needles first by thethread-guide I, Fig. 13, and the sinkers C, as shown in Fig. 14, measureoff the thread for the new loop across the stem of the advanceddial-needle, and while the new yarn is thus held the presser operatesbetween it and the old loop a to press down the beard, the old loopbeing held back on the needlestem by the strain of the fabric. Thedialneedle retracting to the position shown in Fig. 16 draws the newloop across the stem of the advanced needle of the second set, which inthe present instance is illustrated as being the cylinder-needle. Viththe needles of the first set-for instance, the dial-needles-arranged atan angle greater than a right angle relatively to the second set ofneedles the effect of their retraction, as shown in Figs. 15 and I6,will he to draw up or hold up the new loop on the stem of the needleofthe second set Il, and the old loop on this second needle will be helddown against the edge ofthe needle-bed by the take-up strain of thefabric, which, as shown in Fig. 16, is approximately parallel to theneedles of the second set and approximately at right angles to theneedles of the first set. Vihile the old and new loops are thus helddivided or separated the beard of the second or cylinder needle ispressed, as shown in Fig. 17, by the presser 5, there being ample spaceprovided by my arrangement between the old and new loops for thispurpose. In order to facilitate this dividing or separating action, Iemploy plates orwheels 4, Figs. 17, 17, and 23, which may be preferablyarranged inclined. These wheels or plates bear against the fabric beforeand at the moment of pressing, so that the new loop will be bettersupported at a distance from the old loop, as shown in Figs. 1G and 17.These supporting devices may be wheels, as shown in Fig. 23, or simplyfixed plates.

AS indicated in Fig. 17, the plates or wheels 4t are arranged at thepoints where the pressing action takes place, they, together with thepresser-wheels, remaining iixed with respect to the rotary motion of theneedle-beds. At the moment the pressing action has taken place therotation of the machine in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 17, willcarry the IOO IOS

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needle whose beard has just been pressed past this holding device, sothat when the loop is cast off from this needle it will be opposite afree space between the needle-beds, where the fabric is unsupported, andthe strain of the fabric will at once pull over the loop b', Fig. 1S,just cast od, so that it will lie entirely to one side of the line ofmovement of the cylinder-needle, and there will be no liability of theneedle catching into this newly-cast-off loop as it advances again.

It will be seen from the above that the needles receiving the yarn lastare those which are approximately parallel to the strain of thefabricthe cylinder needles in this instancewhile the lirst set ofneedles to which the yarn is fed first are approximately at right anglesto the line of strain, so that the position of the loops on the needleis least affected by the strain.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 13, 14, and 15 that there isno difficulty in making and maintaining the necessary divisional spacebetween the new and the old loops 'on the needles iirst receiving theyarn, for the sinker by remaining in engagement with the new loop-lengthholds it across the needle-stem near its point and at a distance fromthe old loop, which is held back on the stem by the strain of thefabric. This divisional space is ample for receiving the presserwheel 3,which presses down -the beard, as shown in Fig. 15. As above indicated,however, the described special provision must be made for dividing onthe second set of needles, as there are no sinkers cooperating withthese needles to assist in dividing the loops. It will be understoodthat the holding wheels or plates for the fabric are lnot absolutelyessential in all cases, as by my arrangement of the needles and byfeeding the dial-needles first goed knitting may be obtained withouttheir use under favorable conditions, as in the case of coarse-gagemachines with good yarn.

The needle-beds or dial and cylinder a3 b3 may be arranged at rightangles, as inFig. 20, in which case I prefer to use the supporting wheelor plate for facilitating dividing of the old and new loops; but if thisis omitted the needle-bed of the iirst set of needles is extended closeto the second set of needles to support the newly-drawn yarn against thestrain of the fabric. The retracted needle also by drawing the new looptightly across the stem of the second needle will aid in holding it up.

Fig. 2l shows that the supporting wheel or plate 4 may be horizontal andform practically an extension of the needle-bed of the iirst set ofneedles at the point of pressing.

Fig. 22 shows that the needle-beds of both sets may be arrangedinclined, and Fig. 23 also illustrates this idea, the needle-beds beingcup-shaped.

Referring now to the general structure of the machine, the thread-guides1 are supported adj ustably one on each section of the dialcap 10 byscrews l2. rlhe yarn passes through openings in these thread-guides,which have edges 13 extending in a plane substantially parallel withthat of the needles. The threadguide has an extension l', Figs; 3, 4,and 7, which projects in a direction circumferentially with respect tothe needle-circle, and in this extension an inclined slot 13 isprovided, so that the thread can be readily passed through the upper endof the slot and thence to the sinkers and needles. This inclination ofthe slot is such that the yarn is directed to the lower end, which liesunder the nose of the sinker, Fig. 13, and the other end of the inclinedslot being above the plane of the sinkers allows of pulling the yarnthrough in threading. `The lower end of the slot lies in the inclinedportion 13 of the thread-guide, which directs it to the sinkers. Thesinkers C are pivotally supported on a rib 14 of the sinker-bed 15,which is in the form of a ring surrounding and arranged to rotate withthe needle-cylinder b3 and with the dial as. The sinkers are depressedby cams 16 to sink the yarn, and these cams are supported in xedrelation by brackets 17 upon the sections 18 of the stationarysupporting-ring 18. As shown in Fig. 14, the sinkers move in the arc ofa circle, thepivotal point :o of which is above the plane of theneedles, and in rising the sinkers cut the plane ofthe needles at anangle less than ninety degrees, so that the action of the sinkers tendsto move the loop in the direction of retraction of the needle-that is tosay, the nose of the sinker following the path indicated by the dottedarrow y moves slightly backward in its upward movement. The sinkershaving sunk the yarn, as shown in Fig. 14, remain in this position untilthe dialneedle has retracted and the beard has been pressed, the newloop being securely held by the sinker from changing its shape until thedial-needle beard has been pressed and the loop partly drawn into thefabric, and during this movement of the dial needle and sinker thecylinder-needle has risen to receive the new formed loop when the sinkerleaves it, thus insuring the new loops from losing their shape andpreventing drop stitches.

By employing pivotally-moving sinkers l am enabled to multiply themovement imparted to them by the cams for sinking the yarn, so that camscan be used having gentle inclines. These cams engage the sinkersintermediate of their length, and l so multiply the action of the sinkerthat with a cam of low angle I secure a rapid, separate, and independentaction of the sinkers--that' is to say, one sinker completes themeasuring off of the yarn before the next sinker engages the yarn, andthere is no liability of rupturing the yarn by reason of several sinkersengaging it and sinking it at the same time. With the pivotalarrangement a low cam can be used and yet the movement can be so mul-IOO IIO

tiplied that each sinker will complete its sinking action before thenext sinker engages the yarn. Vith this arrangement of pivoted sinkerand cam operating thereon at a point intermediate of the pivot and thenose of the sinker and laterally in relation to the sinker it isimportant to provide means for holding the sinker in position withrespect to the needles it cooperates with and prevent any lateraldisplacement. The sinker-bed is formed for this purpose with two slottedguidingwalls 15', forming between them a cam-path extending'longitudinally of the bed. The cam travels in this cam-path, and byreason of the guiding-wall on each side of the cam the sinkers arefirmly supported against the lateral action of the cam-incline. Thesinkerbed is formed also with a slotted guidingwall 15" for thetailpieces of the sinkers, and these tailpieces by striking the bottomsof the slots in this wall limit the return movement of the sinkers tonormal position.

The advantages of my improved sinker and of its relation to the needleswill be more apparent by describing the old forms of sinkers and theirarrangement and showing their disadvantages as applied to a machinehaving two rows of independently-operated needles. The oldest form ofsinker device is a burwheel orsmall wheel having a series of bladesfirmly fixed at approximately a forty-five-degree angle to its axis.This wheel was intended to sink yarn for a single row of needles, and inthe case of fabrics made with a single row of needles only a very smallquantity of yarn is required to be sunk for each of the loops. The buror sinker wheel is arranged to stand at an angle to the needle androtatein unison with the row of needles. The blades of the bur-wheelpass in between the needles and meshing therewith like teeth ofgear-wheels, and the thread is fed to the needles by the blades of thebur-wheel forcing the thread between the needles. It will be readilyseen that several blades must necessarily be in mesh with the needles atthe same time, and all the blades, from the rst one entering to thecentral point of mesh, must be holding thread at the same time, and inorder that the loops shall be all made of the same length the threadmust render or pull through from one needle to another. In the case ofplain fabrics there is very little dept-h ot mesh necessary.Consequently there is little rendering of yarn; but in the case ofribbed fabrics more than twice the quantity of yarn must be sunk to formthe two rows of loops instead of one, as in plain fabrics. Ordinary yarnwill not stand the strain of so much rendering. This is one of thethings that knitters aim to overcome in all kinds of knitting and isentirely overcome by the form of sinker and the arrangement of thesinkers with relation to the needles as embodied in my machine. Anotherobjection to a bur-wheel as applied to ribbed knitting is that, thebur-wheel standing at an angle of forty-five degrees to the eeaovtneedles and being rotated by the needlesV themselves, each needlerepresenting a tooth in a gear, a very little resistance applied to thebur-wheel would force the engaging needle out of perpendicular and twoneedleswould be allowed to fallin between the blades, Where only oneneedle is supposed to go, resulting in a bad hole in the fabric and asmash-up, to use the knitters term. This is more likely to occur when alarge quantity of yarn is attempted to be fed, as in the case of aribbed fabric, than in the case of plain fabrics, where such bur-wheelsare usually employed and for which use bur-wheels were invented. It willalso be evident that on extremely-finegage machines the needles of veryfine wire are not rigid enough to rotate the wheel with its resistingthread with any degree of safety, and, again, another objection to theuse of bur-wheels is that immediately the loop has been sunk thenewly-formed loop is left unprotected and is liable to fall out frombeneath the beard of the needle, causing dropstitches and holes. In thecase of soft pliable yarn theloops usually remain in the position andshape in which the loop-wheel leaves them; but in the case ofhard-twisted yarn, lisle-thread, or silk the thread will immediatelystraighten out after the loop wheel leaves it, and it has been foundimpracticable to knit such yarn with bur-wheels. This objection I rstaim to overcome by constructing a sinker arrangement that will sink thenecessary quantity of yarn without rendering from one needle to anotherand having formed the loops will hold them in their proper shape andposition in relation to the needle until the needle-beards have beenpressed and the loops partly drawn into the body of the fabric, and sofar as I know such a construction, form of needle, and relative positionto the needle has never been produced.

Another form of sinker is the so-called sliding sinker, which isfrequently used on machines having one row of needles. There are severalobjections to this form of sinking device as applied to machines havingtwo rows of independently-operated needles, and said objections areovercome by my construction. The sliding-sinker cam would necessarily bea very steep one in order to sink sufficient yarn for one loop beforethe following sinker comes in contact with the yarn to avoid rendering,and it has been found impracticable to operate sliding sinkers with camsof a greater angle than forty-five degrees, and with a cam of this angleit is impossible to sink sufiicient yarn for a ribbed fabric without theyarn rendering from one sinker to another. This form of sinker is a veryold one as applied to a machine with a single row of needles and isillustrated as applied to a machine with two rows of needles in thepatent of 'liffany, No. 536,743. By the construction of my presentinvention l am enabled to multiply the motion of the sinker-nose, sothat IOO with a cam of very moderate angle abundance of yarn can besupplied to the needles without rendering. This object was attained byme in a machine illustrated in my Patent No. 559,830, granted May 12,1896; but I have found that that form of pivoted sinker, with itsmultiplied niotion,would not hold the loops in their proper position andshape a sufficient length of time to prevent the thread from beingdisengaged, and also that the blades of the sinkers entering and leavingthe row of needles were constantly swiveling, owing to the sinker-rowand needle-row being tangent to each other, and therefore constantlydiverging, resulting in crowding the needles and thread at both theentering-point and at the point where the sinkers leave the needle-row.I have found it necessary on the fine-gage machines, where fine anddelicate thread is to be used or where hard-twisted, wiry, or smoothyarn is to be used, that the yarn must not render and must be heldpositively in its proper relation to the needle until after the pressingoperation has been effected and also that the sinkers should beindependent of the needles and should be positively held in their properrelation to the needles, so that they may fall directly between theneedles without coming in contact with them,uninlluenced by slightresistance which is liable to occur with knots, bunches, orslightly-varying thicknesses of the thread, and l have so located thesinker pivot-point with relation to the needle that there is the leastpossible amount of rendering and so that the sinkers may be positivelyoperated yin unisonwith the needles, positively feed the yarn, and bepositively returned to normal position at the proper time with relationto the movements of the other knitting devices. This result could not beaccomplished as Well if the sinker-row did not encircle the row ofneedles, so that the relative radial position of the needles and sinkersremains the same except for the sinking movement of the latter.

The brackets supporting the sinker-cams are adjustable vertically by anut 35, engaging a screw-threaded post 36, extending from a stand 37,Figs. 1, 3, and 25, on the sectional supporting-rin g. A spring 38 inthe bracket presses it up against the nut. The bracket has a tailpiece39, with a pin 40 passing into the stand 37 to hold the bracket againstlateral movement. The nut is conical to get a firmer frictionalengagement with the bracket.

As shown in Fig. 5, the sinker-depressing cams have a low part at 19,which depresses the sinkers for the measuring-off action, and also a lowportion 20, which depresses the sinkers slightly as theypass under thepresserwheel and its bracket.

The sinkers are held in place by a spring 21, of ring form, whichencircles the series of sinkers and engages notches in theirVtailpieces. Cams 22, Figs. 2 and 3, return the sinkers to the normalposition of Fig. 13, and

these cams are supported upon the stationaryT sectional ring 18, beingheld by screws 23. A spring-ring 21 encircles the sinkers and bears ontheir tailpieces.

The arrangement of the pivotal sinkers encircling the needles possessesa number of advantages over that type of machine in which sinkers arecarried by a dial and do not encircle 'the needles. It is more compact,simpler in construction, and a larger number of feeds can be applied toa machine than if the dial-support is used; but a still more importantadvantage is that the encircling sinkers will hold the thread on theneedles up to the A point of pressing or even later, which is essentialin the case of wiry or smooth hardtwisted yarn, the sinkers alwaystraveling With'the needles. The sinkers may be held in the depressedposition holding the yarn taut across the needle as long as desired.

By the dial arrangement of sinkers the needle-circle and sinker-circlewere set tangent to each other. The continued revolution of the twocircles after the yarn is sunk causes the sinkers to diverge from thepath of the needles, and the sinkers have to be lifted from the yarnbefore the pressing on the second row takes place.

The presser-wheels 3 for the dial-needles are carried by blocks 25,Figs.l2, 3, 4, and 15, adjustable in guides 26, secured to the edge ofthe dial-cap sections. These blocks are pressed down by springs 27 togive the pressers a yielding effect on the needle-beards, and they areadjusted by screws 2.8, having disks 29 entering notches 30 in vtheblocks, the

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notches being large enough to allow yielding play of the pressers.

The presser-wheels 5 for the cylinder-needles are carried by brackets3l, Fig. `2, secured to plungers 32, supported in bearings 33, which arecarried by shafts 34. These shafts are held in stands 41on the sectionalring 18. The plungers are pressed inwardly by the springs 42 in order togivea yielding contact between the presser-wheels and thecylinderneedles. The parts are adjusted toward or from the cylinder bythe barrel 43, screwed into the bearing and having a finger-wheel 43.The stem of the plunger is threaded and is engaged by check-nuts 44. Thepresserwheel may be drawn back from the needles by simply pulling on thenuts 44 to retract the plunger. A guide-pin 46 holds the presserbracketin proper alinement in all adjustments. v

As before stated, the dial, cylinder, and sinker-bed rotate in unison.The dial a3 is supported upon a hollow shaft 7, Fig. 2, eX- tendingvertically therefrom and having a gear-wheel 47 attached thereto at itsupper end. This gear is supported upon a ball-bearing consisting of theballs and a plate 48, which rests on the sleeve 49, to the lower end ofwhich the dial-cover 50 is connected. sleeve is threaded and passesthrough a nut 51, operated by a hand-wheel 52 and resting This IIO

on the central bearing 53 of the stationary frame 53'. By this nut andits hand-wheel the dial and its cover can be adjusted vertically towardor from the cylinder. In this adjustment, however, the relation of thedialcover and its cams to the dial and cylinder is not changedcircumferentially, as the cover is held against rotary movement by thelink 50', adjustably held by a screw 50" and arranged to slide on a pin50 of the fixed frame. This allows the vertical adjustment of the cover,and the cover may be adjusted circumferentially by loosening the screw50" and adjusting the link, which is slotted to receive the screw.

The holding plates or wheel fl, before described, which engage andsupport the fabric at the passing-points, are supported, as shown inFig. 23, by the head 4L', fixed to a post or rod 4c", extending upthrough the dial-supporting shaft 7 and having an arm la fixed at itsupper end, which extends laterally and has a stop-screw 5X, engaging thepin 5" on the fixed gear-guard Gl. By this arrangement the head 4', withthe fabric-holding wheels or plates, is held against rotation, so thatthe wheels or plates are radially opposite the presser-wheels of thecylinder-needles. By adjusting the stop-screw 5 the wheels or plates canbe adjusted circumferentially with respect to the needle-circle and inrelation to the presser-wheels. By employing holders in the form ofwheels there will be less friction on the fabric. The fixed bearing 53is on the fixed supporting-frame 53', which comprises the arms 55 andthe posts 5G connected thereto and extending up between the sections ofring 1S from the fixed base-ring 5G', Figs. l and 2. This base-ring issupported by the standards 57, Fig. l, one at each side of the machine,which connect at their lower ends with a ring 5S, which in turn issupported by the legs 59. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.) From thearm 55 supplemental posts G0 extend up and support the gear-guard 6l.The cylinder is driven by gearing also. It is carried by a ring 62,having gear-teeth G3 thereon and supported on a flange of the fixedbase-ring 56'. A vertical shaft 64., having bearings in the main frameat 65, has a pinion (S6 at its upper end meshing with the gear 47 fordriving the dial, and near its lower end it has a pinion 66', meshingwith the gear-teeth 63, for drivin g the cylinder. The shaft is drivenfrom the shaft 68, Figs. 1 and 2, through the bevelgearing G9.

The weight ofthe dial and needles and driving-gear is such in this classof machines that the supporting-surface becomes heated and very soonworn out, causing frequent stoppages for repairs and readjustment. Ihave interposed the antifriction-bearing, as shown and described, whichis especially adapted for this purpose and entirely overcomes thedifficulty hereinbefore mentioned.

The dial-cover comprises two portions, the cap part 10 and theinner part11, Figs. 2 and 3. Each part carries needle-cams for the dialneedles,the cap 10 carrying the retractingcams 70, Fig. 4, while the inner partcarries the advancing cams 7l, Fig. The cap being formed in sections,any one of which can be removed separately, it is possible to gainaccess tothe needles at any point without disturbing the whole cap, andwhen any section of the cap is removed the needles will still be heldagainst falling out of their grooves by the advancing cams 71, attachedto the inner portion of the cover, as shown in Fig. 3, which representsone of the cap-sections removed.

rlhe cams for the cylinder-needles are carried upon a ring made up oftwo parts, I[he outer part 72 being formed of removable sectionscarrying the retracting cams, while the inner part 72', Fig. 2, carriesthe advancing cams. This cam -ring is connected to the fixed base-ring5G'.

'Ihe vertical needles are held in their grooves by guards 74, which areheld by the screws 23 to the sectional support or ring 1S. These guards,as indicated in Fig. 3, are arranged about the cylinder and their endsare rounded off at 75, Fig. 3,to prevent any needle from striking asharp corner, the direction of rotation of the machine being indicatedby the arrow.

In order to do tucked work, I throw out of action every other of thecylinder needle presser-wheels so that they will accumulate a pluralityof loops. For this purpose I leave some of the shafts 3l free to rotatein their stands 4l in order to remove the pressers from action, whilethe others are held by the screws 76, Figs. 8 and 9, in action. Theserock-shafts have flattened lower ends 77 engaged by forks 7S, connected`by screws 79 to the ring 80, which surrounds the edge of the fixedbase-ring 5G'. By giving a circumferential movement to this ring 8O theforks are operated to rock the shafts and swing the presser-wheels outof contact with the cylinderneedles, so that the beards of the needleswill not be pressed down by these wheels, and consequently there will beno casting-off action at these points until the wheels are back again innormal position.

For operating the ring 8O back and forth I employ a pair of iin gers 8l82 on parallel shafts 83 84, extending vertically at one side of themachine in bearings S5 and S6, the latter bearing being in the bracket87. These shafts are geared together by pinions 88, fixed thereon, sothat when either is moved the fingers will have movement in oppositedirections or toward or from each other. The shafts are rotatedseparately by cams 89 90, secured to the rotary take-up plate 91, Fig.l, by posts 92. The cams are at approximately opposite sides of themachine and one, S9, is in the plane of an arm 93, secu red to the shaft83, while the other eam, 90, is in the plane of an arm 94E, secured tothe other shaft 84;.

Supposing the arm 93 were moved toward the right by its cam moving inthe direction IOO IIO

of the ring.

of the arrow, Fig. 9, the finger 81 will be swung to the right, and ifat that time the block 95 is raised from the position shown in Figs. 10and 11, so that the lug 96 thereon is in the plane of the finger 81,said finger will strike the lug and through the block will push `thering 80 around to the right to remove the pressers at d b from contactwith the cylinderneedles, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 9.

The block 95 is connected to the tucker-ring 80 by a screw 95 extendingtherefrom into a boss 97 on the ring, a spring 98 in the boss tending toforce the pin, with the block, upwardly. The rear end of the block isguided in a fork 99, Figs. 10 and 11, on the boss 97 The block is helddown against the pressure of the spring out of the way of the finger 81,as in Figs. 10 and 11, by a lever 100, pivoted at 101, Fig. 9, on across-bar of the bracket 87 and having a roller bearing on a toothedwheel 102. This wheel is turned at the required times by patternmechanism of any suitable kind. In the present instance I have shownsuch pattern mechanism generally at- D. This mechanism at the requiredintervals turns the shaft 103, on which the wheel 102 is fixed. When theroller on the pattern-lever drops into the space between two teeth, itsinner end frees the block 95 and allows it to rise under action of thespring 98, and then upon the movement of the finger 81 to the right,which takes place once for every revolution of the machine, the ringwill be moved through contact of the finger with the block. As the blockis raised the finger 82 in closing toward the finger 81 passes under theblock. When the arm 94 is operated by its cam 90, the ngers open. Thepattern mechanism will then press the block 95 down, and upon the nextmovement'given by the arm 93 to the right under the action of its camthe block 95,'then being down and at its righthand limit,will be struckby the finger 82 and returned to the normal position of Fig. 9. In thisclosing action of the fingers the one 81 will pass over the lug 96 onthe now depressed block, and upon the next vcontact of the arm 94 withits cam the fingers will open, ready for the next rising movement of theblock.

The pattern mechanism is driven by pawls 104, connected with a slide105, which is reciprocated by an arm 106, extending from the shaft 84.

The take-np plate 91 rests upon the lower fixed ring 58 vand is operatedby the pinion 107 on the shaft 108 meshing with teeth in its edge. Theshaft has bearings 108X in the stationary frame and is driven from theshaft 68 by bevel-gearing 109. A wheel110 on this shaft serves to turnthe machine by hand. By this method of driving the take-up plate thespace about the fabric and between the rotating cylinder and take-upplate is left entirely free and unobstructed, so that the workman mayreadily have access thereto while the machine is in operation.

The take-up mechanism c d is of a known form and is operated from thefixed geared ring 111 by the pinion 112.

I have thought it unnecessary to show each section of the machine withall its attachments complete, and therefore in Fig. 3 I have only shownthe sections e f complete, the devices of these sections coperating witheach other, and in Fig. 1 I have shown only the sections g h as providedwith the necessary attachments.

In Fig. et a cam-section 112 is shown se-v cured to a slide 113,arranged to slide in the dial-cap and adjusted by the screw 114,whichhasba disk engaging a groove in the slide, so that the cam may beadjusted to retract the dial-needles more or less, as desired. This cam112 isv of special importance in order to facilitate 'dividing of thenew and old loops. It constitutes an adjustable drawing-in cam for thedial-needle and is of such shape and arrangement as will allow ofretracting aseries of needles to the limit of their movement at thepressing-point of the cylinder-needle. This effect is illustrated inFig. 26. I aim to have a plurality of these dial-needles drawn nearlyconcentric with the edge of the needledial, so that thc loops will beevened between this series of retracted needles, thus preventing anyinequality in consequence of the yarn rendering through from one needleto the other after having been fed to the needles, and also thatthe-divisional space between the new and old loops on thecylinder-needles may be of the greatest possible length and width. Thestrain of the fabric would tend to break the loop if only one needle wasdrawing the loop taut, as this loop would be supporting all the strainof the take-up. By having a large number of loops drawn taut by theretraction of the dialneedles the strain of the take-up is evenlydistributed among this number and the divisional space is much moreuniform and of greater width and length than would be the case if one ortwo needles were retracted to the limit of the loops at the time ofpressing. This renders unnecessary line adjustment of the presser-wheel.This cam is made with its working face approximately concentric with thedial edge and is attached to the movable slide 113, adjustable parallelto the needle movement, so that all of the needles that are in contactwith the working surface of this cam are kept approximately concentricwith the edge of the dial, whether long or short loops are being made,if the cam is ad- IOO IIO

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j usted to take up the full amount of yarn fed to the needles. A guard115 is secured to dial-cap for holding the dial-needles down while thedial needles are receiving the thread from the sinkers.

The sinker-bed in Fig. 23 is shown as provided with a gear-rim 7c,meshing with a pinion Z on the shaft 64:. By this arrangement thesinker-bed is rotated in unison with the dial and cylinder, which, asshown, are driven by the means before described.

In Fig. 2 the sinker-bed is shown as shrunk onto the rim m of thecylinder, and this rim is slotted for the needles.

As shown in Figs. 9, ll, and l2, the tuekerring SO is held underfrictional restraint by the spring-pins SO, carried thereby, engaging,and having conical or beveled tops engaging sockets in the plate SOX,fixed to the stationary su pporting-ring 5G. "When the ring SO is moved,the pin is depressed, but remains in frictional engagement with theplate 80X. A pin 80 limits the movement of the ring by striking the endsof a slot 8()a in the plate SOX.

I claim as my invention l. In combination in a circular spring-needlemachine, a first and second set of needles, means for operating eachneedle of each set independently, means for feeding the yarn to theneedles of the first set which then feed it to the needles of the secondset, the said second set being arranged nearly parallel to the directionof strain of the fabric which pulls or holds back the old loops thereonfrom the new loops.

2. In combination in a circular spring-needle machine, a first andsecond set of needles, means for operating each needle of each setindependently of the other needles, means for feeding the yarn to theneedles of the first set which in turn feed it to the needles of thesecond set, the said second set being arranged nearly parallel to thedirection of strain of the fabric which pulls or holds back the oldloops thereon from the new loops and the two sets of needles beingarranged at an angle to each other greater than that of a right angle,substantially as described.

3. In combination in a spring-needle machine, a first and second set ofneedles, means for operating each needle of each set independently,means for feeding the yarn to the needles of the first set which thenfeed it to the needles of the second set, the said second set beingarranged nearly parallel to the direction of strain of the fabric whichpulls or holds back the old loops thereon from the new loops.

4. In combination in a spring-needle machine, a first and second set ofneedles, means for operating each needle of each set independently ofthe otherneedles, m eans for feeding the yarn tothe needles of the firstset which in turn feed it to the needles of the second set, the saidsecond set being arranged nearly parallel to the direction of strain ofthe fabric, which pulls or holds back the old loops thereon from the newloops, and the two sets of needles being arranged at an angle to eachother greater than that of a right angle, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a knitting-machine, two sets of spring-needles,pressing means therefor, means for operating each needle independentlyof the others, means for feeding the yarn to the needles of one setwhich then feed it to the needles of the second set, and means forsupporting the fabric adjacent to the new loops on l[he needles of thesecond set against the strain of the take-up to divide the new and oldloops for pressing on the second set of needles, substantially asdescribed.

6. In combination in a knitting-inachine, two sets of spring-needles,pressing means therefor, means for operating each needle iudependentlyof the other needles, means for feeding the yarn to one set of needleswhich then feed it to the second set, and holding means projectingbeyond the needle-bed of the first set of needles to support the fabricadjacent to the new loops on the second set of needles against thestrain of the take-up, the second set of needles being substantiallyparallel to the direction of strain of the fabric whereby Jthe old loopswill be held divided from the new loops for pressing, substantially asdescribed.

'7. In combination with two sets of springneedles, means for feeding theyarn, pressing means, and supporting means for the fabric interposedbetween the needle-beds and forming extensions of the bed of the 'firstset of needles at the pressing-points to enlarge the divisional spacebetween the old and new loops on the second set of needles for pressing,substantially as described.

S. In combination with two sets of springneedles, means for feeding theyarn, pressing means, supporting means for the fabric operating at thepressing-points to enlarge the divisional space between the new and theold loops for pressing, the two sets of needles being arranged atanangle greater than a right angle, and means for feeding one set ofneedles which then feed the second set, said second set being morenearly parallel to the direction of strain of the fabric, substantiallyas described.

9. In combination with two sets of needles arranged at an angle to eachother greater than a right angle, means for feeding the yarn to theneedles of the first set which then feed it to the needles of the secondset, su pporting means for the fabric interposed between the two sets ofneedles and forming extensions of the needle-bed of the first set at thepressing-points, the second set of needles being arranged approximatelyparallel with the direction of strain of the fabric, substantially asdescribed.

10. In combination, the two sets of needles with means for operatingeach needle independently of the other needles, pressing means, andsupporting means for the fabric operating at the pressing-points andforming an extension of the needle-bed at said points to hold the newloops separated from the old loops, substantially as described.

1l. In combination, the two sets of needles with means for operatingeach needle independently of the other needles, means for feeding theyarn to the needle of one set first which then feed it to the second setof needles, means for moving the needle-beds, pressing means,

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and holding means for the fabric arranged at the pressing-point, saidpressing and holding means being fixed relative to the movement of theneedles, substantially as described.

l2. In combination in a knitting-machine, two sets of needles, means foroperating each needle of each set independently ofthe others, a set ofpivotally-supported sinkers arranged as a set parallel with the sets ofneedles and means for operating each sinker independen tly to sink thethread to the needles of one set for knitting, said set then feeding thethread to the needles of the other set, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a knitting-machine, two sets of needles, means foroperating each needle of each set independently of the other needles, aset of pivotally-supported sinkers encircling the needles, and means foroperating each sinker independently of the others to sink the yarn forthe knitting operation, substantially as described.

14. In combination in a knitting-machine, two rows of needles, means foroperating each needle of each of the two rows independently, a row ofpivotally-supported thread-feeding sinkers arranged as a set parallelwith the two rows of needles and means for operating each sinkerindependently of the others to sink the thread for the knittingoperation, substantially as described.

15. In combination, the needles, a sinkerbed having grooves in its upperand side faces, a pivot-rib between the two sets of groovessubstantially in the longitudinal plane of the needles and beyond theends thereof and thread feeding sinkers having tailpieces working in oneset of grooves while the main portions of the sinkers move in the otherset of grooves, substantially as described.

16. In a multiple-feed circular-knitting machine, the needles andsinkers, the cams for the needles, a plurality of feeding and pressingdevices, and supporting means therefor formed in removable sections andcarrying also the needle-cams, there being as many removable sections asthere are groups of needle-cams, feed and presser devices, substantiallyas described.

17.. In a knitting-machine, a dial with its needles, a dial-cover formedin two parts, the cap part being formed of removable sections,drawing-in cams attached to the removable sections and outthrow camsremovably attached to the inner portion ofthe cover, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a multiple-feed circular-knitting machine, the needles, thesinkers, a plurality of feeding and .pressing devices, a plurality ofneedle-operating cams, a plurality of sinkercams, and a cover-ringinclosing the needlecam ring and formed in sections and carrying thesinker-cams and pressing devices, there being as many sections of coveras there are groups of needle and sinker cams and feeding and pressingdevices, substantially as described.

19. In combination with aset of independently-operated spring-needles,apresser,a sliding block carrying the presser, an adjustable stopconsisting of a screw having a disk en gaging a notch in the block andallowing limited movement of the presser and a spring bearing on theblock for giving a yielding pressure thereto, substantially asdescribed.

20. In combination with a spring-needle knitting-machine with sinkers, athread-carrier composed of a plate having an elongated slotted eye, thelower end of said slot being arranged to extend beneath the nose of thesinker and the opposite end of which slot occupies an elevated positionfor convenience in threading, substantially as described.

2l. A thread-guide consisting of a plate having an inclined slottedthread-eye, the portion of the plate at the delivery end of the slotbeing turned at an angle to the portion at the threading end, incombination with sinkers under the nose of which the turned portion ofthe plate lies, substantially as described.

22. In combination with the needles, the sinkers, the cam for thesinkers, the hollow bracket for supporting the cam, the spring withinthe bracket, tending to force it away from the sinkers, the postextending through the bracket and the nut on the post for adjusting thebracket, substantially as described.

23. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, the needles, thesinker-bed in the form of a ring surrounding the needle-cylinder andhaving two slotted walls and a pivotrib located out beyond the slottedwalls, the sinkers pivoted on said rib and extending inwardly from saidpivot across the two slotted walls and the cam for the sinkers workingin the path between the slotted walls, substantially as described.

24:. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, the cylinder anddial needles, the sinker-bed having the two slotted wallsand thepivot-rib, the sinkers pivoted'on said'rib and extending inwardlytherefrom'across the slotted Walls, said sinkers coacting with thedial-needles which then sink the yarn to the cylinder-needles and thecam for-the sinkers, working between the slotted walls.

25. In combination, the needles, the pressing device therefor, thesinkers, the sinkerbed having two slotted walls with a cam-path between,the cam adjustable in said path or removable therefrom, an adjustablebracket for the sinker-cam to permit the same to be adjusted orwithdrawn from the cam-path and a removable plate carrying the presserand sinker brackets, substantially as described.

26. In combination, the needles, the pressing device, the sinkers, thecam-surface for operating the sinkers to measure od the yarn and asecond cam-surface for depressing the sinkers in passing the pressingdevice, substantially as described.

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27. In combination, a cylinder with its vertical spring-needles, a dialwith its needles, means for operating each needle of each set of needlesindependently, means for feeding the yarn rst to the dial-needles whichthen feed it to the cylinder-needles, the cylinder-needles beingapproximately parallel with the strain of the fabric, pressing means andtakeup means to draw the fabric downward through the cylinder,substantially as described.

28. In combination, a cylinder having vertical spring-needles, a dialhaving springneedles inclined with respect to the cylinderneedles at anangle greater than a right angle, means for operating each needleindependently of the others, means for feeding the yarn to thedial-needles first which then in turn feed it to the cylinder-needles,the said cylinder-needles being approximately parallel with the strainof the fabric,pressingm eans and take-up means to draw the fabricdownward through the cylinder, substantially as described.

29. In combination, the needles, the pivoted sinkers having tailpiecesextending on the opposite side of the pivot from the maiin portion, thesinker-bed having a slotted Wall for the ends of the tailpieces, and acam arranged between the slotted wall and the pivot of the sinkers,substantially as described.

30. In combinatiomthe cylinder,thesinkerbed in the form of a ringsurrounding the cylinder and supported therefrom, the sinkers havinghorizontal main portions and downwardly-extending tailpieces, thehorizontal cams engaging the tailpieces, the ring upon which said camsare supported, the vertical cams for the sinkers, and the supports forthe vertical cams held on the ring and extending upwardly and inwardly.

31. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, the needles, thesinkers arranged about the needles, the sectional ring, each sectionsupporting a needle-guard, a pressing device and cams for the sinkers,one of the sinker-cams being in a vertical plane and the other in ahorizontal plane, substantially as described.

32. In combination, the dial, the cylinder, the supporting-frame, thedial-cover having a sleeve passing through the frame and threaded at itsupper end, a nut engaging said end and resting on the frame, a shaftpassing through the sleeve to which the dial is attached, a gear fixedon the end of the shaft and means for driving the same, the said nutsupporting the sleeve andthe sleeve supporting the shaft and gear,substantially as described.

33. In combination, the vertical cylinder, the dial above the same, theupper supporting-frame above the dial, the dial-cover having asleevescrew threaded and passing through the frame, a nut on theprojecting end of the sleeve above the frame, a shaft extending downthrough the sleeve to support the dial and the gear on the upper endofthe shaft, substantially as described.

3-1. In combination in a circular-knitting machine, a dial with itsneedles, a dial-cover having a sleeve, a nut resting on the frame andengaging a thread on the sleeve, a shaft supporting the dial andextending up through the sleeve a gear on the end of the shaft, and anantifriction-bearing between the gear and the upper end of the sleevewhereby the gear and shaft are supported by the sleeve and the sleeve inturn is supported by the nut and main frame, substantially as described.

35. In combination, the needles, the pressing device, a supporting-armpivoted at its outer end and carrying the pressing device at its innerend, said support having movement to swing the pressing device in adirection across the needle, and the reci procatory ring for moving thesaid support, substantially as described.

36. In combination, the needle, the pressing-wheel, supporting meanstherefor pivoted at its outer end and carrying the pressingwheelat theinner end, said supporting means being arranged to permit thepressing-wheel to be retracted by hand from the needle in line therewithor to be swung aside and automatically-operating means for swinging thesupport, substantially as described.

37. In combination, in a circular-knitting machine, the needles, thepressing device, with supporting means by which it may be swung asidefrom the needles, a reciprocatory ring surrounding the machine,connections between the same and the pressing device and. means foroperating the ring, substantially as described.

38. Incombination,theneedles,thepresser, the support therefor comprisingthe rockshaft, the reci procatory ring and the arm connecting the samewith the rock-shaft, substantially as described.

39. In combination, the needles, the pressing device, a reciprocatingpart for throwing the pressing device in and out of action, and meansfor operating the said reciprocating part consisting of the rock-shafts,the fingers thereon, means for operating the rock-shafts reversely, ashifting block on the reciprocating device to lie in the path ofthefingers al ternately and pattern mechanism for controlling the positionof the shifting block, substantially as described.

40. In combination, the needles, a pressing device, means for throwingout of action the pressing device comprising a reciprocating part, ashifting block thereon, fingers operating on opposite sides of the blockand means for shifting the block into line with one iinger and then theother, substantially as de scribed.

4l. In combination in a spring-needle knitting-machine, a series ofindependently-operated radial needles, a second set of needles andneedle-cams comprising a drawing-in cam having a broad cam-surfacesubstantially conl IOO centric with the center of the set of radialneedles, and adapted to hold a plurality of radial needles in aretracted position to even up any inequality in the lengths of the loopsand to facilitate dividing in the needles of the second set,substantially as described.

42. In combination, the two sets of springneedles, pressing means, meansfor feeding the first set of needles which then feed the second set, andmeans for supporting the fabric at the pressing-points to facilitatedividing and pressing, said fabric being unsupported at the intermediatepoints whereby the strain of the fabric at these unsupported points willdraw the newly-cast-off loops out of the path of the needles, the saidsecond set of needles being nearly parallel to the direction of take-upstrain of the fabric, substantially as described.

43. In combination in a knitting-machine, means for changing thepattern, a reciprocating part connected with said means, a shiftingblock carried by said reciprocating part, pattern mechanism controllingthe position of the block and oppositely-moving fingers for engaging theblock to move the reciprocating part, substantially as described.

44. In combination in a spring-needle knitting-machine, a first andsecond set of needles, means for operat-ing each needle of eachsetindependently, means for feeding the yarn to the needles of the firstset which then feed it to the needles of the second set, the needlebedof the second set of needles having its inner and outer faces at themost acute angle possible whereby the strain of the fabric lying againstthe inner face will be nearly parallel to the needles of the second row,substantially as described.

45. In combination with two sets of springneedles, means for feeding theyarn, pressing means, and supporting means for the fabric interposedbetween the needle-beds and forming extensions of the bed of the firstset of needles at the pressing-points to enlarge the divisional spacebetween the old and new loops on the second set of needles for pressing,said supporting means being wholly to one side of the plane of theneedles movement, substantially as described.

46. In combination with two sets of needles arranged at an angle to eachother greater than a right angle, means for feeding the lill.

yarn to the needles of the first set which then feed it to the needlesof the second set, supporting means for the fabric interposed bey planeof the needles movement, substantially as described.

47. In combination in a'knitting-machine, two sets of needles, means foroperating each needle, of each set independently of the others, a set ofpivotally-supported sinkers arranged as a set parallel with the sets ofneedles and means for operating each sinker independently to sink thethread to the needles of one set which then sink the thread to theneedles of the other set, the latter being more nearly parallel to thedirection of the strain of the take-up, substantially as described.

48. In combination, a set of needles, a'set of sinkers, a bed for thesinkers having a lateral pivot-rib foi` the sinkers, means for operatingthe sinkers and yielding means for holding the sinkers in place, saidsinkers bed having also two slotted guide-walls in its upper face and acam working between said guidewalls upon the sinkers, substantially asdescribed.

49. In combination, in a circular-knitting machine, a first and secondset of needles, means for operating each needle of each setindependently, means for feeding the yarn to the first set which thenfeeds it to the needles of the second set, said second set beingarranged nearly parallel to the directionl of strain of the fabric, aseries of independentlyoperating sinkers arranged parallel with the setsof needles and acting in connection with the needles of the first set,means for supporting the fabric at the pressing-points formingextensions of the needle-bed at said points and a broad drawing-in camfor the needles of the first set to hold a plurality of said needlesretracted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

FRANK WILCOMB. Witnesses:

HENRY I. Fox, FRANK B. WILDMAN.

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